Key to Larvae of Mayflies (Ephemeroptera)

Key to Larvae of Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) For species level identification see FBA Scientific Publication 49: “Larvae of the British Ephemeroptera: a key with ecological notes”, J. M. Elliott, U. H. Humpesch & T. T. Macan. 1 Gills under covers (except small 1st gill) (fig. 1) — CAENIDAE CAENIDAE (2 genera). Brachycercus harrisella (fig. 2.) is separated from genus Caenis (5 spp.) by the presence of 3 tubercles on anterior-dorsal part of head and 5 backward-curved processes on the sides of the abdomen under the gill covers. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 — Gills Visible — 2 2 Gills feathery (fig. 3) — EPHEMERIDAE or POTAMANTHIDAE EPHEMERIDAE (one genus Ephemera, 3 spp.) POTAMANTHIDAE (1 sp.) Each gill 2-branched with fine filaments down Potamanthus luteus – Rare!) the sides, held over back, and extend over first Gills held out sideways, and half of abdomen (fig. 4). extend over whole length of Fig. 3 abdomen (fig. 5). Fig. 5 Fig. 4 — Gills not feathery — 3 3 Body flattened; eyes dorsal; plate-like gills, each usually with tuft (fig. 6) — HEPTAGENIIDAE HEPTAGENIIDAE (5 genera) Body markedly flattened with broad head, thorax, and femora. Nymphs cling to surface of stones. Examine hind corners of plate (pronotum) behind head; Fig. 6 — Back projections present fig. 7a ECDYONURUS (4 spp.) Fig. 7a Fig. 7b — Back projections absent fig. 7b, 8a RHITHROGENA (2 spp.), 8b HEPTAGENIA (2 spp.), ELECTROGENA (2 spp.) and KAGERONIA 1 sp.) Fig 8b: No dark Fig. 8a: Note dark spot spot on femora. on top of each femur. First gill small First gill large and meets and like others in its fellow beneath the shape. body. NOTE: Arthroplea congener used to belong to the HEPTAGENIIDAE but is now in the family ARTHROPLEIDAE. A. congener also has a flattened body, dorsally placed eyes and plate-like gills (without tuft), though is easily distinguished by its long, brush-like maxillary palps that extend well beyond edges of the head (fig. 9). A. congener has not been seen in the UK since 1920. Fig. 9 — Body not flattened; eyes lateral; gills not as above — 4 4 Four pairs of plate-like gills (fig. 10) which are held over back — EPHEMERELLIDAE EPHEMERELLIDAE (2 genera Ephemerella, 1 sp. & Serratella 1 sp.). Serratella ignita (was Ephemerella ignita) is common in small stony streams and rivers, and is easily recognised by the alternate light and dark bands on the tails, and the backwardly-directed projections on either side of the mid-dorsal line of the abdomen (fig. 1)1 The rarer Ephemerella Fig. 10 notata has neither of these characters. Fig. 11 — Six or 7 pairs of gills visible and held out sideways — 5 5 Filamentous gills as shown (either fig. 12a, b or c); tails ≥ length of body — LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE (3 genera) Tails as long as or longer than the body, with a few short bristles on both sides of each tail. Poor swimmers. Genera separated by shape of gills: — Several filaments fig. 12a. — Gill pairs 2-7 have two plates, each — Two strap-like filaments fig. 12c. Habrophlebia fusca tapering to a single filament fig.12b. PARALEPTOPHLEBIA (3 spp.) LEPTOPHLEBIA (2 spp.) Fig. 12a Fig. 12b Fig. 12c — Plate-like gills tails < length of body — 6 6 On posterior abdominal segments, hind corners form sharp points (fig.13a and b)– SIPHLONURIDAE or AMELETIDAE SIPHLONURIDAE (one genus Siphlonurus, 3 spp.) Tails of equal length with thick black band across centre. Tails in live specimens held apart. At least first two gills have two plates. Family AMELETIDAE (1 sp. Ameletus inopinatus). As with SIPHLONURIDAE hind corners of abdominal segments have spines but much smaller. Ameletus may be wrongly identified as Baetis (family BAETIDAE). However, Ameletus Fig. 13a, SIPHLONURIDAE Fig 13b, AMELITIDAE and Baetis are easily separated by tail length; 3 tails of equal length in Ameletus and middle tail shorter than others in Baetis. In live Ameletus tails held close together. All gills are small and simple (one-plate). Ameletus is usually found in streams at high altitudes above 1,000ft, but is also found in lochs in Scotland. — Hind corners blunt — BAETIDAE BAETIDAE (4 genera) Hind corners of last few abdominal segments not drawn out to form sharp projections (fig. 14). Genus Baetis (9 spp.) Middle tail shorter than outer ones; tails Fig. 14 never with dark rings but have a median dark band in some species (fig. 15). Gills single, rounded at the tip, and shaped like the head of a tennis racket. B. niger and B. digitatus have 6 pairs of Fig. 15 single plate-like gills. Larvae found chiefly in streams and rivers. Other genera: 3 tails of equal length and tails marked with dark rings. If gills simple, they are pointed at tip. Centroptilum luteolum: About 7 distinct dark rings on the tails but no dark band (fig. 16). Gills single and pointed at tip (beech-leaf Fig. 17 shape) fig. 17. Lakes and slow-running stretches of streams and rivers. Fig. 16 Procloeon (was Centroptilum) pennulatum: Dark band about half-way along tails and about 5 dark rings between band and body (fig. 18). First 6 gills double with one plate much larger than the other, and both plates round at tip. Slow-running water. Fig. 18 Procloeon bifidum (synonym pseudorufulum): Narrow dark band on tails and about 9 dark rings between band and body (fig.19). Gills single, hairs on tails thick and usually extend to tip (in life, tails held close together). Slow-running water. Fig. 19 Genus Cloeon (2 spp.): Broad dark band on tails and about 12 dark rings between band and body (fig. 20). First 6 gills double and rounded (C. dipterum) or pointed (C. simile) at tip. Hairs on tails not obvious and do not extend to tip (in life, tails held well apart and curve downwards at tip when seen from the side). Generally in ponds and lakes. Fig. 20.

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